Leaving Montrose

CT - good news, we avoided eye contact  with all local. This is not a town for southern smelling bikers. A few beers in "themed pub" and on the the station. JS looked particularly nervous given he drew the short straw and was expected the share with a stranger..... The picture on his face when he found out was alone, counts as tour smile. 

Nervous look from JS 

The final tour whiskey......good night and great tour

Day 5 ( final day!)

After a proper night sleep (JA not in our room) and a leisurely start we headed towards Mt Keen (the most easterly Munro in Scotland). A pleasant upward ride towards our final big climb of the journey. A strong SW wind was ignored given the wonderful sunny weather. 

The climb up Mt Keen was very challenging but we were rewarded a glorious view of the Scottish highlands and a wonderful reminder of what we had achieved. 

Next was the most demanding downhill we have encountered. Steep, lose and plenty of boulders to topple. 

CT's bike failed stylishly but mountain repairs got him going. The mistake of the day them occurred. 15 min fast decent and CT realised the GPS was left up the mountain!!! JS and SCB lay down for a snooze while CT had to climb halfway back up Mt Keen to find it! 

A rapid 60km ride to Montrose in the beautiful sunshine and a strong tailwind finished the journey. 275miles. Many '000  of climbing and somehow the challenge was completed! 5 wonderful days (I think). No major injuries to note and 3 almost fully functioning bikes. 

Morning forest riding. 

Heading towards Mt Keen

SCB topping off Mt Keen

CT doing the same

JS (my belly is full and I also made it up)

Views from on high 

Lunch time

Gnarly dudes above Montrose

A city which has seen better days...

It official we didn't spend 5 days drinking somewhere pretending to be riding. 

Montrose lighthouse 

Thank you, our trusty steads

Team photo at the finish line (smiles are us). 

Day 4

CT - Mission and I mean mission completed. 94km and 1700m of climbing. Wonderful morning cycling through the forests near Aviemore followed by high moor riding then riding through the shooting estates up to Lake Elean and finishing off with a 20km down hill track ride touching over 55km. 

Hero of the day was SCB who realised after about 2 km his right knee wasn't functioning (at all). For the next 10 hours he was placed on a cocktail of drugs (thank you Cam) and somehow, somehow he made it. 

Now in Ballater, one more day. 90km and a small climb Mont Keen the last easterly Munro. 

One more day and finally and we are still talking. Much has been made of the repetition of stories. We are happily on rev 3 and some cases 4 and are still enjoying the repeats. 

Track riding in the Caingorms 

A view across the Carigorms

My belly is full!

1 mile to go!

Memories of lastnight....

JA - night in Avimore sit rep

Plan is to make it from the corner of the diner up the hill to the bunk beds without:

A) making eye contact with locals

B) flashing cycling shoes (especially my sky blue leather ones)

C) being accosted in the bar that's attached to the b&b (open until 1am) for wearing tight clothing, especially me as mine is exceptionally tight, coz I like aero, probably...

D) lock the door quietly...

Then it's eye masks on, tissue paper in ears and ignore the violence outside and hope we can batten down the hatches...and no matter what happens, no speaking, it'll only make it worse...

New cycling

CT - JS has been plagued poor kit selection. We think that this will sort the issue out is the Caingorms tomorrow. 

Top tips for budding mountain bikers

SCB - 1 going to the gym a couple of times before a coast to coast isn't quite enough 2 having your seat pointing 10 degrees to the left ain't a good idea if you  want your legs to work the next day 3 eating during the day generally helps things 4 Aviemore will not be winning cultural city of Europe anytime soon - by far the most dangerous part of the trip so far

Day 3

CT - this was all about Corrieyairack Pass. Leaving FAugustus at 9 we then climbed (and for some walked) 3 hours straight to the top of the past. Peaking at 780m. It blowing a cold and strong SW in the mist. At times stunning. The rest of day was fast moving riding with the wind behind. Beautiful rolling hills and forest ringing. Good day in the saddle for some ( SCB) to report on poor saddle fitting. 

Start of 3 hour climb. 

Da boys steadily climbing towards the Corrieyairack Pass. 

Typical view....

Quick photo at the top of the pass. Blinking freezing!

House for sale. Peaceful with no neighbours. Net curtains come with the house for free! 

3 young men infront of Ruthaven castle!

Random women we wandered into riding through a forest somewhere. She (and her dog in the saddle) were riding from Cumbria to the top!

Our three horses resting outside a pub in Aviemore. 

Stats for the day

84km 

1505m of climbing. 

Average speed 13.3 km/h

SCB and JA to report on nite out in Aviemore!!!!

Day 2 done !

SCB - so day 2. Learnt some lessons from day 1 - it rains in Scotland so wet weather gear a good idea. Didn't realise though we were crossing rivers today. Waterproof socks can't handle that. But now in fort Augustus and dumped wet kit. About to tuck into beers and food. Top day.

JS - SCB and CT in the same room at b&b following a 'special request' for a double bed...to be fair the proprietor didn't bat an eye, and I am banished to a single room on account of some minor snoring issue... 92.3km today, lots of 'hike a bike'. Lots of silence at the table - every single story even remotely related to cycling was shared at the RAC, was repeated last night, and there's not much chat left on the mental shelves...

CT - some other moments include

Ash powering up a hill (simon in the background)

And awesome Scottish view. 

Observing the canal (only 10km to go)

Arriving into Fort Augustus. Not a puff of wind and the sun decides to make a welcome arrival

The 8 locks at Fort Augustus (rubbish photo)

All in all a challenging day. Proper offloading and terrifying descents on water rock!

Tomorrow brings our biggest climb (750m) first thing and another 80km (ish) up and across to Aviemore. 

The boys are tucking into their second bowl of cheesy nachos. 

We must remember to stock up properly with food. Bonking isn't fun! 

  

Day 2 weather check

CT - Rubbish weather condition require a route change. Means more cycling but less riding in high exposed. 

Technical stuff over now time to eat some "home grown eggs and local smoked salmon for breakfast."

Pub chat

SCB- conclusion - uma thurman - dangerous liaisons. 

Quote and mistake of the Day

CT - Quote of the day: " don't wear your antlers". The stalking season started today!

Mistake of the day. Charlie put on his evening trousers only to find out that he picked up Rosie's trekking trousers. Tight trousers for the week then!

Highlights of Day 1

JA - tornado!

Buzzed twice by a Tornado as leaving Kyle of L - boom! Much talk of why we were relying on far less impressive machines for kicks to staive off or rather indulge in a mid life crisis...Maverick Thomas and Ice Croft Baker couldn't decide on who was fastest... Which was made very l clear as we climbed up a 'hill' and polka dot undergarment Thomas continued as the walkers enjoyed the scenery...

Scampi fries and Guinness in the pub await...

Found some Scottish lawn mowers at the pub. 

Day 1

CT - The start line. 3 blokes with smiles (I don't think they will last for long). 

 

Picture of Skye (in the sunshine). 

Jason and Simon at the start line

Now for Charlie

A typical Scottish castle we assume

We made it to Scotland

Well we made it to Scotland. I guess that means we will have to ride then. 

Snow on the hill

CT - As we travel down from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh (stunning train journey). The weather has closed in and we see our first snow capped munros!! Not what we were expecting. Are there such things a bike snow tires?

Random fact

C- as we arrive in Inverness on a beautiful morning, we realise that one year today is the Scottish Referendum. Will they go or will they stay?

The official starting line

C - The Official starting line

Nicki Lauda and James Hunt F1 cars as our inspiration. 

Martini starting line

As is expected of all great expeditions a martini at the RAC is required. 

Quote of the the day from Ash was "martini starting line"

Prologue

Prologue

Start: Skye or Ft William

Finish: Montrose

Distance: 270 miles

Here we go................. Skye to Montrose over 5 days, 270 miles (assuming we don’t get lost) and for the sake of argument lots of mountains since we haven't worked out the elevations.

Three slightly unfit, nearly 40 (+/-1yr) attempting what it considered as one of the most challenging MTB routes in the UK. A route based on Tim Woodcock's classic Coast to Coast mountain bike ride. We have modified it in order to condense the “experience” to five days.

Team members (and current friends):

Simon Croft-Baker

Jason Ash

Charlie Thomas

We are unsupported but are staying in comfort each evening. That means soft bed, warm food and no doubt a few single malts along the way.

As I write this there is current a significant weather warning in the Western Highlands.

Translated into words this is what it looks like:

"Westerly 40 mph gust 60 mph with occasional gusts to 70 mph across the far north at first. Winds easing a little in the afternoon." (thank you Met Office)

Weather is something we will contend with once we are in the highlands. We are 100% sure on rain however.

The intended journey / profile is as follows.

Day 1

Skye (Kyle of Lochash) to Glenelg

Day 2

Glenelg to Fort Augustus

Day 3

Fort Augustus to Aviemore

Day 4

Aviemore to Ballater

Day 5

Ballater to Montrose